Black Hippy

Last updated

Black Hippy
Kendrick Lamar 3 F.I.B. 2016 (cropped 3).jpg
Jay Rock - Openair Frauenfeld 2019 05.jpg
Ab-Soul - AfroPunk Festival 2015.jpg
ScHoolboy Q at the SPIN party at Stubb's SXSW 2014--8 (15658080138).jpg
Top: Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock
Bottom: Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active2008–2022
Labels Top Dawg
Past members
Website topdawgmusic.com

Black Hippy was an American hip hop supergroup [1] [2] [3] from South Los Angeles, California, formed in 2008. The group consisted of West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q. [4] Black Hippy was constructed after all of its members had signed to Carson-based indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).

Contents

The collective ultimately never created albums together; the members were frequent collaborators, regularly appearing and contributing to each other's respective solo projects, oftentimes not even crediting one another as a guest vocalist or featured artist.

Lamar has previously stated that the group would never face demise due to the solidification of each member's career. However, in 2022, he parted ways with TDE, thus breaking up the group. [5] [6]

History

Formation and career beginnings (2008–11)

The group was formed in 2008, when all of its members were signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, a Carson-based independent record label. [2] [4] The idea of forming a group came from Schoolboy Q, who said he was "slacking in [his] music": "I figured if I could be in a group I could just write one verse and I could be good", he added. [7] Schoolboy Q, the last of the four to join the label, admitted to initially being intimidated when he first started going to the studio, but eventually the tenacity of his collaborators rubbed off on him. [7] In 2011, Black Hippy received co-signs from West Coast hip hop legends Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg; while hardcore hip hop artist Tech N9ne, called them "the new N.W.A", and revealed he had hopes of signing the group to his Strange Music imprint. [8] [9]

Solo albums (2012–2016)

In March 2012, MTV announced that Kendrick Lamar closed a joint venture deal with Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment. Under the new deal, it was announced Lamar's major label debut album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), would be jointly released via Aftermath, Top Dawg and Interscope. [10] [11] [12] On August 9, 2012 the music video for Ab-Soul's "Black Lip Bastard (Remix)", which features the rest of Black Hippy, was released. [13] In the summer of 2012, the group performed at the annual hip hop festival Rock the Bells. [14] In late 2012, the group collaborated once again to remix Lamar's singles "The Recipe" and "Swimming Pools", which were included on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. On December 20, 2012, the lineup for the 2013 Paid Dues hip hop festival was revealed, announcing Black Hippy as the headliners. [15]

In March 2013, Black Hippy became the first hip hop group to have all members make XXL's annual Top 10 Freshmen list; with Jay Rock appearing on the 2010 issue, Kendrick Lamar on the 2011 issue and Ab-Soul, alongside Schoolboy Q, on the 2013 issue. [16] [17] [18] In April 2013, Black Hippy covered RESPECT. magazine, which hit newsstands on the 30th. [19] Also in April 2013, it was reported that Kendrick Lamar added dates to his good kid m.A.A.d city concert tour, revealing his upcoming US dates will feature all four members of the Black Hippy crew. [20] On May 23, 2013, in anticipation of their tour together, Black Hippy released a remix to Atlanta-based rapper Rocko's 2013 single "U.O.E.N.O.". [21] [22]

Following the highly acclaimed TDE cypher at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards, which featured Black Hippy rapping alongside their TDE label-mate Isaiah Rashad, the group appeared on the cover of the October/November issue of XXL. [23] In December 2013, Black Hippy performed at Power 106 and Footaction's 2013 Cali Christmas event. [24] [25] During a February 2014 interview with Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith and Dave Free, there was talk of a debut effort from the Black Hippy collective, to possibly have been released during 2014. [26]

On March 16, 2015, Lamar released his second major-label album, To Pimp a Butterfly , which received rave reviews from music critics. In June 2015, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q, appeared alongside Lamar, in the beginning of his music video for "Alright", To Pimp a Butterfly's fourth single. [27] On September 11, 2015, Jay Rock released his long-awaited second album, 90059 . The album features the first Black Hippy posse cut since 2013, titled "Vice City". [28] Aside from Schoolboy Q's July 2016 album, Blank Face LP , its single featuring Kanye West, "That Part", was remixed by Black Hippy. [29]

Disbandment (2022)

In February 2022, in an interview with Mic, TDE president Terrance "Punch" Henderson confirmed the disbandment of Black Hippy. [30] According to him, member Kendrick Lamar's departure from the imprint was what signaled the end of the group after nearly 14 years of activity. He stated: "We definitely wanted to do a Black Hippy album. But it was such a learning experience for us, everything was new. The timing never really panned out. When one guy would be recording his album, another guy would be on tour. Everybody was never in the same timeframe. So we didn’t want to hold back; we wanted to keep going and just push further into their individual careers. In hindsight, I wish I would’ve pushed the Black Hippy album more. That was always my goal, personally. You would have to ask everybody individually to see if that’s what their goal was." [5]

Discography

Singles

As featured artist
List of singles as featured performers, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US US
R&B 		US
Rap
"That Part (Black Hippy Remix)" [31]
(Schoolboy Q featuring Black Hippy)		2016———non-album single
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

Album appearances together
List of non-single songs Black Hippy has collectively appeared on
TitleYearAlbumAlbum artist(s)
"Try Me"2008Schoolboy Turned HustlaSchoolboy Q (also featuring Punch)
"Welcome to C4"2009C4Kendrick Lamar (also featuring BO)
"Top Dawg Cypha"Gangsta & SoulSchoolboy Q (also featuring Lil Louie)
"TDE Roll Call"30 Day TakeoverJay Rock
"I Do It 4 Hip Hop"
"Shadow of Death"2010 Black Friday
"Rolling Stone"2011 Setbacks Schoolboy Q
"Constipation" Longterm Mentality Ab-Soul
"Say Wassup" Follow Me Home Jay Rock
"Black Lip Bastard (Remix)"2012 Control System Ab-Soul
"The Recipe (Remix)" Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Kendrick Lamar (also featuring Dr. Dre)
"Swimming Pools (Remix)"Kendrick Lamar
"Vice City"2015 90059 Jay Rock

Filmography

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and director
TitleYearDirector(s)
"Zip That, Chop That"2010Matt Plunkett & Joseph Donaldson [32]
"On Some Other Shit" Calmatic [33]
"Say Wassup"2011Fredo Tovar [34]
"Black Lip Bastard (Remix)"2012The ICU [35]
"Alright"2015Colin Tilley [36]
"Vice City"2015Joe Weil [37]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Control System</i> 2012 studio album by Ab-Soul

Control System is the second studio album by American rapper Ab-Soul. It was released on May 11, 2012, by Top Dawg Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Jhené Aiko, Danny Brown, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, BJ the Chicago Kid, Kendrick Lamar, JaVonte, Punch, Ashtrobot and vocals from the late Alori Joh. The album's production was handled by Digi+Phonics, King Blue, Nez & Rio, Skhye Hutch, Curtiss King, Aahyasis, and Tommy Black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Rock</span> American rapper

Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr., better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he signed with local independent label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005. He secured a major label joint venture deal with Warner Bros. Records and Asylum Records to release his 2008 debut single, "All My Life ". Failing to chart, the mergers fell through and Rock departed from both of the latter labels shortly after. He then signed with Missouri rapper Tech N9ne's label Strange Music in a joint venture deal with TDE in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schoolboy Q</span> American rapper (born 1986)

Quincy Matthew Hanley, better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q, is an American rapper from South Los Angeles, California. Hanley released his debut mixtape, ScHoolboy Turned Hustla (2008) and its sequel, Gangsta & Soul (2009) the following year. After signing with the Carson-based record label Top Dawg Entertainment, Hanley released his debut studio album, Setbacks (2011) and its follow up, Habits & Contradictions (2012) both to positive reception; both also performed moderately on the Billboard 200 chart as digital exclusives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Top Dawg Entertainment</span> American record label

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is an American independent record label. Specializing in hip hop and R&B artists, TDE is based in Carson, California. The label was founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, who is the chief executive officer. His son, Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr., and Terrence "Punch" Henderson are the presidents of the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Recipe (Kendrick Lamar song)</span> 2012 single by Kendrick Lamar featuring Dr. Dre

"The Recipe" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on April 3, 2012, as the first single from his major label debut Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, however, only made the deluxe edition of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ab-Soul</span> American rapper

Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, better known by his stage name Ab-Soul, is an American rapper. Raised in Carson, California, he signed to indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2007, where he eventually formed West Coast hip hop group Black Hippy, alongside fellow California-based rappers Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. He is perhaps most known for his introspective lyrics and his five independent albums under TDE, Longterm Mentality, Control System, These Days..., Do What Thou Wilt., and Herbert, which were all released to positive reviews and commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HiiiPoWeR</span> 2011 single by Kendrick Lamar

"HiiiPower" is the debut single by American rapper Kendrick Lamar which released on April 12, 2011. The conscious hip hop song also serves as the lead single from his independently released debut album, Section.80 (2011). The song was written by Lamar alongside label cohort Ab-Soul, and features production from rapper J. Cole and backing vocals from the late singer Alori Joh.

<i>Oxymoron</i> (Schoolboy Q album) 2014 studio album by Schoolboy Q

Oxymoron is the third studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. It was released on February 25, 2014, through Top Dawg Entertainment and distributed by Interscope Records. Oxymoron was his first album released under a major record label to music retailers, whereas his previous albums were released independently to digital retailers only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ab-Soul discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of Ab-Soul, an American hip hop recording artist, consists of five studio albums, two mixtapes, seventeen singles and 30 music videos. Ab-Soul's first full-length project was a mixtape titled Longterm. The mixtape was released in 2009, as a free download via mixtape-sharing websites.

Digi+Phonics is an African American hip hop production team, composed of California-based record producers Tae Beast, Sounwave, Dave Free and Willie B. They currently serve as the main in-house producers for Carson-based record label, Top Dawg Entertainment. Digi+Phonics work significantly on projects from all the members of hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, who are also signed to Top Dawg and is composed of rappers Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul. Their best known productions include "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" by Kendrick Lamar, "There He Go" by Schoolboy Q, and "Terrorist Threats" by Ab-Soul. They frequently co-produce songs together and put the finishing touches on the projects released by Top Dawg Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collard Greens (song)</span> 2013 single by Schoolboy Q featuring Kendrick Lamar

"Collard Greens" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Schoolboy Q, released on June 11, 2013 as the lead single from his third studio album Oxymoron (2014). The song, produced by production team THC and co-produced by Gwen Bunn, features a guest appearance from his Black Hippy cohort, Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate, and fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The song has since peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 36 on the UK R&B Chart. It was met with generally positive reviews from music critics.

William Thomas Trenell Brown, known professionally as Willie B or by the stage name The Ichiban Don, is an American hip hop record producer and recording artist from Los Angeles, California. He is an original member of West Coast hip hop production team Digi+Phonics of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). He is also a member of the hip hop collective A Room Full of Mirrors, alongside fellow rappers Punch and Daylyt, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaiah Rashad</span> American rapper (born 1991)

Isaiah Rashad Joel McClain is an American rapper. His mainstream breakthrough followed after his performances on the 2012 Smoker's Club Tour alongside rappers Juicy J, Joey Badass and Smoke DZA. He is a founding member of the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based hip hop collective The House, which he formed with rappers YGTUT, Michael Da Vinci (MikeyD), Chris P, and Brian Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break the Bank (song)</span> 2014 promotional single by Schoolboy Q

"Break the Bank" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Schoolboy Q, released on January 21, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records, as a promotional single from his major label debut studio album Oxymoron (2014). The song was recorded in 2012 and was produced by The Alchemist. The song has since peaked at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

<i>These Days...</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Ab-Soul

These Days... is the third studio album by American rapper Ab-Soul. It was released on June 24, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). The record serves as the follow-up to his critically acclaimed Control System (2012). The album features guest appearances from Black Hippy affiliates Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock; as well as Rick Ross, Lupe Fiasco, Action Bronson and Mac Miller, whose in-house studio is where Ab-Soul recorded the majority of the record, among others.

<i>90059</i> 2015 studio album by Jay Rock

90059 is the second studio album by American rapper Jay Rock. It was released on September 11, 2015, on Apple Music and the iTunes Store; the physical editions were released on September 18, 2015, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). The album features guest appearances from Rock's TDE label-mates Kendrick Lamar, Black Hippy, Isaiah Rashad, SZA, SiR and introduces Lance Skiiiwalker, Chicago singer-producer who in 2016 would be named as a new TDE signee as well as Busta Rhymes and Macy Gray.

"Vice City" is a song by American rapper Jay Rock, taken from his second studio album, 90059. The song, which was produced by Cardo, features guest appearances from Rock's fellow TDE label-mates Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul, credited as they are collectively known, Black Hippy. The song takes its name from the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Part</span> 2016 single by Schoolboy Q featuring Kanye West

"That Part" is a hip hop song by American hip hop recording artist Schoolboy Q featuring Kanye West. It was released on May 13, 2016 by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records, as the lead single from Schoolboy Q's fourth album Blank Face LP, and was produced by Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Cubeatz and Sounwave. The song was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. HipHopDX named it the ninth best hip-hop song of 2016.

<i>Blank Face LP</i> 2016 studio album by Schoolboy Q

Blank Face LP is the fourth studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. It was released on July 8, 2016, through Top Dawg Entertainment and distributed by Interscope Records. The album serves as his second release under a major record label to music retailers, following 2014's Oxymoron. The album features guest appearances from several prominent artists, such as Kanye West, Jadakiss, E-40, Tha Dogg Pound, Miguel and Anderson .Paak, among others.

Terrence Louis Henderson Jr., better known by his stage name Punch, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and record executive from Carson, California. He is best known for being the president of independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). He has also executive produced several successful albums, including Kendrick Lamar's Section.80 (2011), Schoolboy Q's Habits & Contradictions (2012), Terrace Martin's 3ChordFold, (2013) and more. Aside from his solo musical career, Punch is a member of hip hop collective A Room Full of Mirrors, alongside fellow rappers Daylyt, Nick Grant, The Ichiban Don, Lyric Michelle, Hari, and more.

References

  1. ↑ "Status Ain't Hood: Jay Rock Stands In The Shadows Of Giants". September 16, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q form quasi-supergroup Black Hippy | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. (March 11, 2012)
  3. ↑ "On the unexpected success of Kendrick Lamar's Black Hippy posse". The Daily Dot . September 14, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Insanu Ahmed (February 3, 2012). "Who Is Schoolboy Q? – His group, Black Hippy". Complex . Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Cutsforth, Ross (February 21, 2022). "TDE president, Punch, talks why the Black Hippy album never happened". Tone Deaf. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  6. ↑ Savoy, Starr. "Top Dawg Thinks Black Hippy 'Owe Y'all an Album or EP,' Teases TDE Compilation and More 2023 Releases". Complex. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Andrew Noz (February 20, 2012). "Black Hippy: A View from the Center « The FADER". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Tech N9ne on Black Hippy: 'That's The New N.W.A. To Me' [Video]". blog.therealtechn9ne.com. July 2011. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  9. ↑ Andreas Hale. "BLACK HIPPY: NO COSIGNS NECESSARY". The Well Versed. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  10. ↑ Nadeska Alexis (March 8, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar, Black Hippy Ink Deals With Interscope And Aftermath". MTV. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar & Black Hippy Sign To Aftermath & Interscope | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopDX. March 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Report: Kendrick Lamar, Black Hippy Sign with Aftermath & Interscope". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ab-Soul – Black Lip Bastard (rmx) f. Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q & Jay Rock (Video)". 2DopeBoyz. August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Black Hippy Perform "Black Lip Bastard (rmx)"Black Hippy Perform "Black Lip Bastard (rmx)" Live at Rock the Bells 2012 (Video)". 2DopeBoyz. August 19, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  15. ↑ Sean Lynch (December 20, 2012). "Paid Dues 2013 Lineup Announced; Black Hippy To Headline". MTV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  16. ↑ "XXcLusive: XXL's 10 Freshmen for '10 Cover Revealed – XXL". Xxlmag.com. March 1, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  17. ↑ "XXL Presents 2011′s Freshman Class – XXL". Xxlmag.com. February 22, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  18. ↑ Fletch (March 27, 2013). "XXL Freshman Class 2013 Cover Revealed – Page 2 of 2 – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ Paine, Jake (April 18, 2013). "Black Hippy To Cover Next Issue of RESPECT Magazine". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Expands Tour". Pitchfork Media. April 20, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Listen: Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock Remix Rocko's "U.O.E.N.O"". Pitchfork Media. May 22, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Jay-Rock – "U.O.E.N.O. (Black Hippy Remix)"". Stereogum. May 23, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock & Ab-Soul Are on New XXL Cover". Xxlmag.com. October 16, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Black Hippy at Cali Christmas (Full Performance)". 2DOPEBOYZ. December 15, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Watch Cali Christmas 2013 w/ Black Hippy, J. Cole, Rick Ross & B.o.B". 2DOPEBOYZ. December 14, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Top Dawg's Kendrick Lamar & ScHoolboy Q Cover Story: Enter the House of Pain". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  27. ↑ "VIDEO: Kendrick Lamar – 'Alright'". Rap-Up. June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Jay Rock's "90059" To Feature A New Black Hippy Posse Cut". Hotnewhiphop.com. August 17, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Schoolboy Q – "THat Part (Black Hippy Remix)" (Feat. Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, & Ab-Soul)". Stereogum. July 8, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Punch on TDE's transformation, SZA's growth, and Kendrick Lamar's swan song". Mic. February 18, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  31. ↑ "THat Part (Black Hippy Remix) - Single by ScHoolboy Q on Apple Music". iTunes . July 16, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Black Hippy – Zip That Chop That". YouTube. August 11, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Black Hippy – On Some Other Shit (prod by Dj Wes)". YouTube. December 19, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Jay Rock – Say Wassup ft , Ab-Soul , ScHoolBoy Q & Kendrick Lamar aka Black Hippy". YouTube. July 22, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Rocksmith Presents Ab-Soul – Black Lip Bastard (Black Hippy Remix) (Official Video)". YouTube. August 9, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar - Alright". YouTube. June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Jay Rock - Vice City feat. Black Hippy". YouTube. September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.